Report: Liverpool 5 Swans 0

26th December
First team

The Swans found themselves on the end of a five-star rout on Merseyside as a catalogue of errors compounded a tough night at Anfield.

Goals from Philippe Coutinho, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and a Roberto Firmino double left the Swans rooted to the foot of the Premier League table.

Swans caretaker manager Leon Britton made four changes from the side that drew 1-1 with Crystal Palace.

Britton shuffled his attack with Wayne Routledge, Jordan Ayew and Oli McBurnie, making his first Premier League start, replacing Nathan Dyer, Luciano Narsingh and Tammy Abraham. Fit-again Leroy Fer returned in midfield in place of Sam Clucas.

Kyle Naughton and Roque Mesa were both fit to start despite picking up knocks at the weekend.

Swansea couldn’t have made a worse start as they fell behind after just six minutes when Jordan Ayew lost possession in his own half.

As Ayew appealed for a foul, Liverpool were ruthless. Firmino, who had pinched the ball off Ayew, fed Mohamed Salah who rolled the ball to Coutinho and the Reds' skipper curled a superb effort beyond Lukasz Fabianski.

The visitors slowly settled down after the goal as McBurnie fed Routledge on the right. His deep cross reached Ayew at the far post, but his header was saved by Simon Mignolet.

McBurnie shot tamely at Mignolet soon after before Emre Can took aim from just outside the box for Liverpool. Fortunately, his effort flew straight at Fabianski.

Swansea were enjoying good spells of possession as the half progressed, but without applying pressure on Mignolet’s goal, as Liverpool finished the half strongly with Firmino firing a great opportunity inches wide at the death.

Neither side made any changes for the start of the second half. But just like the first period, the Swans conceded six minutes in.

Coutinho lifted a free-kick to the far post and Firmino ghosted in unmarked to fire home from close range with 52 minutes gone.

Liverpool were full of confidence now in front of the Kop as Salah fired inches wide before Fabianski denied him with a fine save.

There was no denying Liverpool a third in the 64th minute though as Alexander-Arnold got to an Alfie Mawson clearance ahead of Ayew to rifle a fierce shot in off the bar from the edge of the area.

It got worse for Swansea two minutes later as Fer’s poor backpass fell straight to Salah who squared the ball to Firmino for an easy tap in.

It was soon five as Swansea failed to clear their lines and Oxlade-Chamberlain lobbed a cool finish over Fabianski.

Liverpool: Mignolet, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Klavan, Robertson (Milner 75), Can, Wijnaldum, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Coutinho (capt), Salah (Lallana 68), Firmino (Solanke 68).

Subs not used: Karius, Lovren, Gomez, Mane.

Swans: Fabianski, Naughton, Mawson, Fernandez (capt), Olsson, Roque Mesa, Carroll (Clucas 65), Fer (Sanches 78), Routledge, Ayew, McBurnie (Abraham 62).

Subs not used: Nordfeldt, van der Hoorn, Rangel, Dyer.